Techie takes 9 years to save Rs 1 crore. But his next Rs 1 crore came in just 18 months. Shares lessons

Inside a software engineer's Rs 2 crore journey
Building wealth often feels like a slow, uncertain process—especially in the early years of one's career. But for some, the results begin to speed up dramatically with time, discipline, and the right financial choices. A software engineer working in a core cybersecurity product firm recently shared his journey to achieving a Rs 2 crore net worth—an achievement that highlights how financial discipline and investing can accelerate wealth creation, even for salaried professionals without windfalls or inheritance.Shared on Reddit, what stands out in his story is the contrast in timelines: while it took him nearly nine years to save his first Rs 1 crore, he managed to accumulate the next Rs 1 crore in just a year and a half. His journey offers a practical roadmap for others in the tech industry aiming for financial independence.
He began his career 11 years ago and admits that the early years were not financially productive. There was a slight reset in 2018 around the time of his marriage, which slowed things down further. However, by September 2023, he finally reached the Rs 1 crore mark. Just 18 months later, his net worth doubled—an acceleration that even he hadn't expected.
The sharp turnaround, he explains, is mainly due to a significant shift in his investment strategy. With a growing portion of his portfolio now in equities, he's seeing the real benefits of compounding. Of course, his salary also saw a big jump during this period, meaning he could save more. He also became more intentional about asset allocation, tax efficiency, and goal planning. This acceleration wouldn't have been possible without consistent investing and a high savings rate. Despite having a family of four—including twin boys—the engineer has managed to keep his monthly expenses around Rs 1.2 lakh. This includes rent, school fees, groceries, domestic help, utilities, fuel, insurance, and subscriptions. A disciplined approach to budgeting allows him to invest nearly 60% of his income—close to Rs 2 lakh every month. He uses SIPs and avoids speculative investing.His investments are heavily skewed towards equity, which he credits for the rapid growth in his net worth. He believes that sticking to a strategy and being consistent is more effective than constantly trying to time the market or chase trends.Initially aiming for a Rs 10 crore corpus by age 45, he has revised his Financial Independence, Retire Early (FIRE) goal to Rs 20 crore by age 42. The change was prompted by rising expenses related to children, lifestyle upgrades, and a growing income. He now factors in inflation more realistically and includes buffers for future healthcare and education costs. However, his focus has shifted from early retirement to achieving financial freedom, with the intent to transition into a less stressful, passion-driven job in his 40s.He already has comprehensive term and health insurance coverage and has ticked off personal milestones like buying a car. His outlook reflects a balanced approach to financial planning—being prepared for the future without sacrificing quality of life today.One of the most critical contributors to his success has been career growth. He points out that while smart investments are essential, the real boost came when his income started to rise in the latter part of his career. The first few years were slow, but skill development and job switches eventually led to better compensation and, in turn, faster wealth accumulation.He said that in 2014 at the start of his career, his salary was Rs 3.25 LPA which jumped to Rs 16.50 LPA in 2020. By 2024, it saw a massive jump to Rs 95 LPA, driven by new skill development, certifications, and moving into a niche within cybersecurity.He emphasises that focusing on career advancement and skill-building in the initial years pays off in the long run. High income, when paired with disciplined investing, creates a solid foundation for long-term financial success.
( Originally published on Jun 18, 2025 )

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Hans India

31 minutes ago

• Hans India

Centre unveils Rs 2.3 crore startup challenge to boost renewable energy innovation

New Delhi: The government on Saturday launched an innovative 'Start-Up Challenge' with a total prize pool of Rs 2.3 crore to accelerate rooftop solar and distributed renewable energy innovations in the country. The selected innovators will compete for Rs 2.3 crore, including Rs 1 crore for first prize, Rs 50 lakh for second prize, Rs 30 lakh for third prize, and 10 consolation prizes of Rs 5 lakh each. Last sate for application is August 20 and the result will be announced on September 10. Winners will also gain incubation support, pilot implementation opportunities, and mentorship from domain experts and investors, facilitated by MNRE and NISE, according to a Ministry of New and Renewable Energy statement. The unique national innovation challenge aims to identify and support breakthrough solutions for India's rooftop solar and distributed energy ecosystem. It is being implemented under the aegis of MNRE with support from the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE), and in coordination with StartUp India, DPIIT. The Start-Up Challenge seeks applications from innovators and startups in India, focusing on four key categories to boost renewable energy adoption. These are affordability – making rooftop solar affordable for low- and middle-income households using innovative financing, modular systems, and circular economy strategies. Resilience is another category, to enhance climate resilience, grid stability, and cybersecurity in solar infrastructure, especially for vulnerable and remote areas. Inclusivity – expanding access to underserved communities through community solar, virtual net metering, and inclusive financing models, and 'environmental sustainability' – promoting eco-friendly technologies such as solar panel recycling, land-neutral solar deployment, and hybrid clean energy models, are the last two categories. The challenge welcomes a wide range of startups in green tech, IoT, AI, blockchain, construction, energy hardware, fintech, and waste management.

The Print

35 minutes ago

• The Print

Gold declines Rs 600 to Rs 99,960/10 g; silver plunges Rs 2,000/kg

Gold of 99.5 per cent purity dipped Rs 550 to Rs 99,250 per 10 grams (inclusive of all taxes). The yellow metal had closed at Rs 99,800 per 10 grams on Thursday. The precious metal of 99.9 per cent purity had settled at Rs 1,00,560 per 10 grams in the previous market session. New Delhi, Jun 20 (PTI) Gold prices slipped below the Rs 1 lakh-mark, falling Rs 600 to Rs 99,960 per 10 grams in the national capital on Friday due to selling by jewellers and stockists in line with weak global cues, according to the All India Sarafa Association. Silver prices also diminished Rs 2,000 to Rs 1,05,200 per kilogram (inclusive of all taxes) on Friday. It had ended at Rs 1,07,200 per kg on Thursday. 'Silver slid from recent highs, nearing one-week lows and heading for their first weekly decline in three weeks. It fell below USD 35.70 per ounce after a sharp rally earlier in the week. 'The decline came as investors liquidated positions in bullion to cover losses elsewhere amid rising geopolitical tensions between Israel and Iran,' Rahul Kalantri, Vice-President, Commodities at Mehta Equities, said. The Bank of England on Thursday also held rates steady in its monetary policy meetings, which also limited gains of precious metals. However, intensifying conflict between Israel and Iran, and weakness in the rupee is also supporting prices of gold and silver in the domestic markets, Kalantri said. On the global market, spot gold was trading at USD 3,353.67, lower by USD 16.72 per ounce, or 0.5 per cent. Spot silver fell 0.77 per cent to USD 36.10 per ounce in the overseas markets. 'Traders will watch developments on US trade tariffs and Middle East military engagement will drive volatility. Any signs of de-escalation or non-involvement from the US in the Iran-Israel conflict could keep gold under pressure. 'On the other side, renewed tensions will continue to support prices,' Jateen Trivedi, VP Research Analyst – Commodity and Currency, LKP Securities, said. PTI HG HG TRB BAL This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.

Business Standard

39 minutes ago

• Business Standard

Genpact's 10-hour workday sparks employee outrage, online backlash grows

In the middle of ongoing global debates around work-life balance, Genpact, a major player in the technology and services sector, finds itself at the centre of a storm. The company has introduced a controversial new policy mandating a 10-hour workday, which officially came into effect in mid-June. But what has truly sparked uproar is not just the extended hours — it's the lack of clarity, communication, and any meaningful increase in base pay. According to a report by The Hindu, Genpact's internal system will now track employees' daily active hours through a proprietary productivity portal. Those who meet the 10-hour threshold can earn up to 500 points a month, translating to Rs 3,000 in incentives. However, for any time logged beyond the mandatory 10 hours, employees are rewarded with only a marginal 5 per cent bonus — about Rs 150. There is no revision in base salary despite the extended hours. The policy has caused widespread unrest, particularly in the company's Hyderabad office, where the atmosphere is reportedly 'tense' and morale is taking a hit. The bigger issue, employees say, lies in how the new rules were communicated or rather, weren't. 'There's nothing on paper. It's all word of mouth. If anyone challenges it, they're accused of being difficult and risk termination,' said a senior recruitment staff member to The Hindu. The absence of an official HR circular has only deepened the confusion, with managers and team leads passing on the policy informally. The backlash has spilled over onto social media. Employees have taken to social media platforms to express concerns about the long-term effects of such a policy on mental health and workplace culture. Abhishek Sharma, assistant manager at Genpact, voiced his opinion in a widely shared post: '#For10HrLogin – Is this the new standard or a step backward? As professionals striving for excellence, we're no strangers to going the extra mile. But mandating a 10-hour login raises some important questions about work-life balance, productivity, and mental health… Extended login hours can lead to burnout, reduced creativity, and disengagement. I urge leadership to reconsider – is this sustainable, and is it truly what drives growth?' Others have echoed this frustration online. On X, a user wrote: 'Wow @Genpact really said, 'Forget a life outside work!' With 70 per cent of employees earning under 10Lakh/year, they've now blessed you with a 10-hour workday. Add Bangalore's 3-4 hour traffic jam, and poof—14 hours of your day gone! Marriage? Kids? Nah, Genpact's your soulmate now.' The criticism hasn't stopped there. On Reddit, a user called the move 'absolutely pathetic' and pointed out that, 'the company increased working hours to 10, without increasing salary.' The same user added that employees must now meet 'WAM' — a tool that reportedly tracks keystrokes and activity in detail.